Former 49ers first-round pick Anthony Davis talks comeback

SANTA CLARA, Calif. (AP) Former San Francisco 49ers right tackle Anthony Davis is now talking about an NFL return next year at some point, just two months after he announced his early retirement at age 25 following a head injury last season.

''When I return I'll be the best RT in the league again. Hands Down. (hash)KnowYourself,'' Davis posted on his Twitter account Tuesday. He has said he expected to take a year off to allow himself to fully heal.

On June 5, Davis announced his retirement from the Niners in another surprising offseason departure for the team. San Francisco's 11th overall pick in the 2010 draft out of Rutgers was affected by a concussion late last year. He became the fourth prominent 49ers player to retire in three months - joining linebackers Patrick Willis and Chris Borland and defensive end Justin Smith. The announcement came just four days before the team's mandatory June minicamp, and he hadn't participated in the organization's offseason program.

''First of all, I'm not even thinking about the playing side with Anthony,'' 49ers coach Jim Tomsula said Tuesday. ''It's well-documented we've talked about it and he's taking care of Anthony. I'm really excited about that. I'm excited about hearing that he would like to come back with football. I think that speaks volumes of where he's at, how he's feeling. ... Anthony's statement, that's a different time and a different place. It does make you feel good, obviously things are going in the right direction for him.''

On Dec. 4, Davis said he was able to drive home following a cross-country flight from New York in November despite feeling ''loopy'' from a concussion he didn't initially realize was so severe. Davis was experiencing symptoms after he took an elbow to the head during the Nov. 16 victory over the Giants. He missed the next four games before returning for the Niners' last two contests.

Davis started all 71 games in which he had appeared, as well as eight playoff games.

Davis was followed in the draft by fellow 49ers first-round pick offensive lineman Mike Iupati, who joined the NFC West rival Arizona Cardinals in free agency for the 2015 season.

---

AP NFL website: http://www.pro32.ap.org and AP NFL coverage on Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/AP-NFL